Pneumatic cotton picker



SCP- 19, 1933 E. E. TALIAFERRO 1,927,723

PNEUMATI C C OTTON P I CKER Filed Oct. 28, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept.19, 1933. E, E. TALIAFERRO 1,927,723

PNEUMATIC COTTON PICKER Filed Oct. 28, 1930 2 Shee'tS-Shee 2 31a/vantavaZvaz'ajferra Patented Sept. 19, 1933l UNITED STATES PATENT Thisinvention relates to mechanical cotton pickers and more particularly toa picker head which is to be applied directly to the individual boll andwhich has any desired connection to a container or storage receptacle,the usual connection to a gasoline engine for supplying power foroperating the picker mechanism as well as the air compressor fordischarging the cotton from the picker head to theV container, beingintended. l

The present inventionis an improvement over the picker head disclosed inmy pending application for patent, S. N. 458,978, filed June 2, 1930 forPicker head. y In general the picker head according to vthe presentinvention is of the same character kas that disclosed in the applicationreferred to above incorporating a head with an air blast to providesuction therein, rocking arms with fingers thereon for twisting thecotton boll with relation to the picker, and other features.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide improvedmeans for discharging the cotton from the cotton removing device,consisting of a plurality of circular saws, by providing an intermittentair blast between. the saws directed into the picker head in place ofthe doffer arrangement for cleaning the saws as in my prior application.This intermittent blast provides pulsation of the suction on the cottonbolls being picked which is a decided advantage as well as reducing thenumber of parts, eliminating doifer and other parts, and simplifying theconstruction of the picker head.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air blast between thesaws for clearing them which may be regulated for increasing ordiminishing the air to the saws as may be desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide an air suction in thehead` and means whereby the suction may be regulated at will toproduceonly a slight `suction or to increase the suction as desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable lipand support thereon for properly positioning the cotton bolls while thefiber is being drawn therefrom and preventing the bolls or locks orportions thereof from being drawn into the picker head.`

Further features and objects of the invention will appear from thefollowing specification, accompanying drawings and as pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings in which like characters of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views,' e Figure 1 `is vanelevation of one side of aL picker head in :accordance with myinvention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the other -side of 60 said picker head. A

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through Figure 1 with rotarycotton removing saws in elevation showing, the relation of the air blastfor removing the cotton .lint `on the discharge side Within the pickerhead.l

Figure 4 is a'horizontal sectionthrough Figure 1 with the saws and theirmounting re-l moved showing the air supplytube upon which the sawassembly is rotatably mounted in ele-l 7,0 vation. o e Y Figure 5 is anenlarged sectional view Vof the air supply tube and sawslmountedthereon. l

Referring more particularly to kthe drawings,

10 indicates the picker head havinga Asuitable 75, hose connection 11 toa cotton container, which for the present purpose need not` be shown. Ashaft 12 is connected by a flexible shaft to any suitable source ofpowerV and carriesa pinion 13 adapted to mesh Withthe combined spur andbevel gear14 supported on the transverse stud shaft 15 extending fromthe head 10 and transmits movement to the operating mechanism forpicking the cotton as later described. v

A shaft 16 extends through the head which has 85 bearings therein andkeyed toj the shafty on the outside of the head is a spur gear 17adapted to mesh with the spur teeth of gear 14 for driving this shaft. Asmaller gear 20 'is also keyed to shaft 16 at its outer end andisadaptedt'o transmit motion to' gears 21 and 23 which are fastenedtogether and pivotedfon a stud 22.. Gear 23 in turn transmits motiontogears 24 and 27 which are similarly connectedvandpivoted on a stud 26and gear 27 drives .gear 28 which is keyedto the saw shaft 29. Y f

Shaft 16 extending through. the picker Yhead has on its opposite end adriving gear 20a the same as* gear 20 just referred to.` Gear 20a drives10G a corresponding train of gears, y21a and 23EL on a o stud 22a andv24a and Z'lapn-a stud 26a. f

A plurality of saws 30, threel being shown,V adapted to be driven byvthe saw shaft 29, are mounted on a tube 31 which hasseries of aper- 105tures 32 on each side( off-each blade as shown in Figure 3 of thedrawings.` Saw shaft 29 is integrally connected to closed vend 33roftube 31. The opposite end 34 'of this tube is open and the tube isrotatably `mounted on'a smaller tube 35 110 which is closedat its innerend36 and extends g any shape opening may be used in the tube 35 4inplace ofthe slit 37 as shown, and that severalY such openings may beused for discharging thel outwardly through casing 10 on the oppositeside of the picker head from shaft 29. Within the casing 10 tube 35 isprovided with a longitudinal slit 37 extending the entire length of thetube inside theY casing and so directed in the casing as to dischargeair through theY openings 32 towards the dischargeend of the casing.Thus as cotton is drawn down over the sidesl of the saws air isdischarged under the lint at the desired point in the head'in order tofree the loops of cotton lint from the saw teeth. It is obvious that airat such points as may be desirable. For eX- ample, when the holes in thesawv support tube pass one slot or hole, thecotton maybe partiallyloosened from the saw tooth and it may be necessary for the holes in thesupport to pass another opening to .entirely disengage the cotton.

However, these openings may `bemade at any point in the tube 35 fordischarging the cotton in the lower part of vthehead. It will further beunderstood that this arrangement will insure a clean tooth or saw comingup to re-engage the cotton boll on every revolution.

' The outer end 38 of tube 35 extends a short distance beyond the casingproviding an attachment for a connection for a supply of air as will behereinafter set forth. This end 38 also pro,- vides a bearing for rockerarm 39 whichis pro- AvidedY with a plurality of fingers 40 and sawshaft"29 also provides a bearingfor a similar rocker arm V41 with itsextending fingers 42. Gears 24 and 24a areeach `provided with studs 43which engagein slots 44 in each of the rocker arms 39 and 41. c Thesestudsare so arranged on the gears that when the gears are rotated therocker arms with their ylingers are rocked in opposite directions as setforth in my former application hereinbefore referred to..

, As disclosed in thefore mentioned application `an airduct 45 connectedto a source of compressed air leads to the picker head` and has "anentrance 46 fory directing air through. the

head towards the outlet andV for p causing. suction on thecotton bollswhile the saws are operating uponthem and forcing the cotton thereafterthrough the hose connection 11 to Air duct 45 may 'have a branch 47which Y passes through a regulator valve 48 and from thereto the end38of tube 35 for supplying the compressed air to the saws at the desiredpressure. If ldesired the airr tothis tube may be supplied by a separateconnection.

Casing 1() is provided with a closureV 49 extending over the inlet' andto a point adjacent to saws 30. This closure has one or more openings 50therein which permit the passage of air into the picker head therebyreducing the suction on .the cotton boils. Theseopenings are `regulatedbyv avalve member or slide 51 so thatl the suction may 'be increasedby'closing the openings or dminishedby having the openings more or less`open;'jthe retaining screw for slide 51 is adapted toA move' vin a'slot in the casing 10 so that when ,the screw'is loosened slide 51 maybe moved Vin a directionl normal to the 'plane of the paper so as tocover or uncover the holes 50. l

, Drive shaft 12 is rotated ina direction to turn saws 30 in a directionVaway from said closure 49. The extremerend of casing 1D is spaced fromsaws 30jas shown and provided With a lip 52 and support 53 which maybepermanently secured to this lip. As will be seen in Figure 3 the lip v52held to said extreme end by screws threaded in the lip and adapted tomove in slots.

when loosened thereby permitting the eective rlength of the lip to beadjusted as desired. In

whereas the edge of the bollor points of the vlocks would be supportedby the projecting Vsupport 54 which extends entirely across the lippreventing the boll or lock or portions thereof fromfbeing drawn intothe picker head.

The `picking.operation is accomplished in the following manner: Theengine having been started, the compressor is operated to supply airthrough tube 45 to the picker casing head l0 and shaft l2 transmitsrotary rn'otionfto the gear train on either side of fthe casing rotatingsawsB and rocking the rocker arms39 and 41 with their extending fingers40 and 42. Compressed air is also supplied to tube 35 through theVcompressed vair connectioniat the project-.

ing Vouter end 33 thereof;v vAs the picker head 10 is advanced towardslan individual boli the boll first cornes in contact with the ingers l4Uand 42 of the oppositely moving rocker arms f 'g and is vgiven a' twistto insure throwing all the locks in linev for proper contactwith'thesaws 30 and due to the 'suction created at the mouth of the head, thedraw of the iiberis suicient to remove the entire cotton-from all of thelocks in the boll` at one application of the head and lwithout possibledamage'to the bollv or without the possibility of allowingthe saws tocut the shale or locks'. The adjustable lip 52 and support 53 aresoarranged as to carry the b oll to the proper position with respect tosaws 30 and the passageway into ,the head. In drawing the cotton' from.thebolls by the saw teeth it forms a loop on either side of the sawsland it will beseen that. under the-loops of .cotton on either side ofthe sawsk and at the bottom of the head the streams of air from theapertures A32 from -both sides of the various saw blades are directed,

pushing the cotton from engagementgwith the saw teeth and directing it'intoj theV streamv of air-from entrances 46 of the air blast forclearconnection 1l to the container. sure to tube 35 may be varied Vbyregulating valve 48 and the suction in the head'may be increased ordiminished by Varying the adjustment of the openings 50 by vregulatingvalve 51 so that the `proper air pressure for suction on lint from thesawsmaybe adjusted as desired.

' What I ,claim isz r v 1. In a cotton picker, a head, arplurality ofcoaxial saws, pneumatic means for discharging cotton from theV head, andintermittently operating means :for transferring the cotton from thesaws to within the sphere ofv influence of said pneumatic means, saidtransferring means operating in a direction) radial of the saws.

2. In the cotton picker, a head, a plurality of coaxial saws, pneumaticmeans for discharging cotton" from the head, and means-for providingintermittent air blasts for transferring the cotton from the saws towithin the spher of influence of said pneumatic means.

3. In a cotton picker, includingv a head, acoting the head anddischarging same through hose 1 y The air presthe head and air blast forremoving the `cotton v ton removing device therein, and pneumatic meanswithin the device for transferring cotton from said device to within thehead, said means operating independently of the rate of feed of cottoninto the head.

4. In ak cotton picker, including a head, a .cot-

ton removing device therein, and pulsating pneu-4' matic means fortransferring cotton from said device to within the head.

5. A cotton picker head having doing mean and pulsating pneumatic meanstherein for operating on the cotton after the same has been removed fromthe boll by said do'ing means, said pneumatic means comprising airdistributing means and valve means connected to be driven with saiddofng means whereby operation of said dofling means intermittently opensvsaid valve means to create a pulsating stream of air against the pickedcotton.

6. In a cotton picker, a head, means for drawing the cotton into saidhead, means for rotating the cotton boll Withrespect to the head, andladjustable means on the head for supporting the boll while the cotton isbeing drawn into the head.

V'7. In a cotton picker, a head, means for drawing cotton from a cottonboll into said head, and a lip on the head adjacent to said drawingmeans for engagement with the cotton boll, said lip being adjustable onthe head to accommodate cotton bolls of different sizes.

8. In a cotton picker, a head, means for drawing .cotton from a cottonboll into said head, a lip on the head adjacent to said drawing meansfor engagement with the cotton boll, said lip being adjustable on thehead to accommodate cotton bolls of different sizes,.and a support onsaid lip to prevent parts of the boll from entering the head Whilecotton is being extracted therefrom.

9. In a cotton picker, a head, cotton removing means comprising aplurality of coaxial circular saws, means for rotating the saws, meansfor providing air blasts at the sides of the saws comprising a tubeextending axially through said saws, and discharge means for air fromsaid tube at the sides of the saws.

10. In a cotton picker, a head,vcotton remov ing means comprising aplurality of coaxial circular saws, a tubular member on which said sawsare mounted, said tube having a plurality of series of apertures at thesides of the saws,

` means for rotating said tubular member and fax point.

11. In a cotton picker, a head, a cotton removing means comprising aplurality of coaxial circular saws, a tubular member on which said sawsare mounted, said tube having a plurality o f series of vapertures atthe sides of the saws, means for rotating said tubular member and saws,and means for providing air blasts at the` sides of the saws comprisinga tubular member vupon which saidrst tubular member is rotatablymounted, saidlatter tube having a longitudinal slit therein. directedinteriorlyof the head for discharging air through the apertures Vin thefirst said tube consecutively as said tube is turned.

12. A fiber translating means comprising a hollow shaft, a plurality" ofcircular saws mounted to turn upon said shaft, an opening along one sideof said shaft whereby a stream lof air may be ejected therefrom, meansfor driving said saws, and means for directing fibers toward vand awayfrom said saws.

13. A fiber translating means comprising a hollow shaft having anopening along one side thereof whereby a stream of air may be driven'therefrom, a lplurality of annularly arranged ber doing means mounted toturn about said shaft, and means for driving said dofling means' thrusaid stream. ,y

14. A ber translating device comprising a hollow shaft having anelongated aperture along one side, meansV for ejecting a stream ofairfrom said aperture, a series of substantially alined fiber picking teetharranged along but spaced from said shaft, and means for turningsaidteeth about said shaft whereby each' tooth passesthru said stream ofair eachA time it travels around the shaft to thereby` deliver fibersinto said stream.

15. A toothed roller comprised of a plurality of axially spaced toothedwheels and `pneumatic means for cleaning the teethn consisting of meansfor producing air blasts outward along the sides of the teeth. Y

16. In a fiber handling machine, a fiber translating roller havingexternal peripheral teeth and means located centrally of the roller fordirecting intermittent air blasts radially out- Ward for removing fibersfrom the teeth.

17. The device of claim 16 in which said roller l comprises a tubularshaft, a series of toothed v wheelsmounted` in spaced relation in saidshaft, said shaft having a series of circumferentially spaced air portson each side of at least one of said wheels,means'for revol-'vmg saidshaft and means for opening` each of said ports as it passes apredetermined point in its revolution whereby fibers may be removed fromthe Vteeth of said wheels as they pass in front of said EDWARD E.TALIAFERRO.

